Our story about our move from Palo Alto to Menlo Park in 2015
This article was written 8 years ago and published in The Almanac on January 16, 2015
Photo by Michelle Le/The Almanac
Article about Shady Lane and our move to Sharon Heights Shopping Center in Menlo Park from University Avenue in Palo Alto
After 40 years on University Avenue in Palo Alto, the eclectic Shady Lane gift shop/ boutique is moving to a new home in Menlo Park.
"It was a door that opened in an octagonal building," said artisan owner and founder Alice Deutscher about her shop's upcoming transfer to the Sharon Heights shopping center. "Going from a known to an unknown is always challenging for a business owner. But it seems the right move in my heart."
The move comes in the wake of a changing economy and a changing downtown Palo Alto. The landlord wants to tear down the building that currently houses Shady Lane (at 441 University Ave. near Waverley Street kitty corner to the New Varsity Theater) to make room for a new four-story structure with underground parking. And keeping up with rent increases is always a challenge for a small business owner.
"It's not easy. Our kind of store -- independently owned specialty shops in general -- have a tough go of it. People will mention some of their favorite shops that have closed and I know the challenges. I'm in the store six days a week to make sure things are running smoothly, to greet customers, remember what they bought before, make special orders but most of all listen to their stories about their lives as I love to get to know them," Ms. Deutscher said.
An artist who made a living at craft fairs for over 25 years by creating batik and hand-painted silk clothing and accessories, Ms. Deutscher and her husband, Rick, an award-winning fine-woodworker showcasing his creations at fairs also forged deep connections with the local artisan community, links that extended into Shady Lane when the couple opened the shop with a plant business. “Developer Roxy Rapp helped it get off the ground in 1975, giving the store a prime corner location after the “Jeans West” store closed on University Avenue where Chicos is now.” she said.
"My husband tore down a house that was going to be demolished to use the wood to build the interior of our first store using the recycled wood before it was trendy. “We had a winding brick pathway and pond -- that was our 'lane.' And we had hanging plants, that was our 'shade’," Ms. Deutscher said, explaining how Shady Lane got its name. ”We moved to 441 University between Kipling and Waverly after 3 years on the corner of Waverly and University. Our landlords Leonard and Rose Craig who owned Craig's Paint on the corner of Kipling and University were kind and fair, being store owners themselves they understood the challenges of owning a small business but the building was sold and we were faced with our rent being doubled in 2008.”
In looking for a new location recently, she initially explored options in the same neighborhood. “We had a lease in hand on two occasions but my heart said "no, not right". I have customers now in their 30s, 40s, 50s who have always known Shady Lane on University Avenue and have a history of going there with their moms, and now come in with their own children," she said. "That's what having a heritage business is like. I'm happy that we're able to continue our business, but a little bit sad that we won't be on University Avenue."
Still, Menlo Park beckons. The new store will be slightly smaller than the current location's 1,000 square feet, with easy parking and great access to the highways for out-of-town customers. “Our new landlords seem kind and fair. In our lease we have an agreement we can use the courtyard in front of the new stand-alone octagonal shop which is framed by trees and flowers to host artisan events outside our store 10 times a year. Which is pretty darn wonderful," Ms. Deutscher said.
Shady Lane is expected to open in the Sharon Heights center in early March 2015.
Comments about the article:
Miriam Palm
Old Palo Alto
on Feb 18, 2015, at 9:08 am
I love Shady Lane and am so happy it is moving rather than closing. Its departure is one more reason for me to stay away from University Avenue.
Nora Charles
Stanford
on Feb 18, 2015 at 3:30 pm
Well, there goes the heart of University Ave. What a sad loss for Palo Alto. I'm just happy Shady Lane will be close by in Menlo Park. And speaking of "pretty darn wonderful," that describes the lovely and kind Alice perfectly. I wish her all the best and look forward to visiting the new location.
Elizabeth
another community
on Feb 18, 2015, at 10:27 am
I've loved Shady Lane on University, but am truly excited for the new location with abundant parking and a unique building for a unique shop.
The attractions that drew me to downtown Palo Alto have dwindled over the years so I found only two reasons to venture to University Ave: Shady Lane and Siam Royal.
Fortunately, Siam Royal will call me as long as it's there, but I'll happily make the trip to Sharon Heights and am eager to see Alice's artistic touch expressed in a new location.
See you soon!
Sandra Farrell
another community
on Feb 18, 2015, at 10:52 am
I have found myself in Downtown Palo Alto on a regular basis because of my work. I have always been a staunch supporter of Shady Lane since it opened in 1975 on the corner of University & Waverley where Chico's is now. (3 or 4 years later the gallery moved to it's current historical building at University and Kipling). I have been following Shady Lane's move and I understand that the new building replacing the current building has been approved for 4 stories and not 2. It looks like another ugly glass box from the picture in the Post. I will be very happy to see the new gallery in it's s octagonal building at Sharon Heights Shopping Center. I will continue to seek Shady Lane out wherever it is. The sweet tree lined street that beckons shoppers for me has disappeared. Good fortune, Alice and all. Thanks for 40 wonderful years.
Anneke
Professorville
on Feb 19, 2015 at 11:38 am
With Shady Lane's departure, University Avenue is losing a very special gift store with beautiful, locally made, quality products and excellent, highly personal, service.
Shopping at Shady Lane gives you a unique and happy experience. It is truly a social engagement, which is becoming quite rare these days, despite all the attention on social media.
University Avenue is a prime location in Palo Alto that should reflect a healthy balance of businesses, not just offices and restaurants that come and go.
Shady Lane, with forty years of history in Palo Alto, deserves special recognition, and I hope the City recognizes that.